A hometown girl comes full circle as Kelley Powell takes the reins of Plant City Entertainment.
Sometimes in life, we find ourselves going back to where everything started. Perhaps it sounds like a familiar theme – a young girl from a small town ventures into the great big world. In this story, she’s from Plant City, growing up off Knights Griffin Road, surrounded by strawberry fields. If you’re from around here, you probably know the place I’m talking about.
In high school, she discovers her love for theatre, but the town is too small for her spirit. She longs to see the world, and she does. But, as many of these stories go, she comes to realize that where you are isn’t what matters; it’s the people, the community, that truly counts. It’s true, as Dorothy exclaims in L. Frank Baum’s The Wizard of Oz: “There is no place like home.”
Now, for Kelley Powell, the girl who returned from her adventures and settled back in Plant City over fifteen years ago, another story in her life is just beginning. On Monday evening I visited the playhouse and sat down with the longtime board member and newly elected president of Plant City Entertainment.
It’s a rainy night, and we are sitting in a room adjacent to the theatre as she tells me about her long history with our amazing community theatre group. Every now and then there is the sound of a circular saw from the stage, where set construction is underway for their upcoming production of You Can’t Take It With You. It opens in just weeks.
Kelley tells me a bit about her time here. “I’ve been affiliated with Plant City Entertainment since back in the 1980s. My first show was called Babes in Arms. It was 1982 or 1983, I believe. I went to auditions, and I was cast as assistant to the director.”
In a twist of fate, her role behind the scenes quickly turned into one she was not expecting. “The actress playing one of the lead roles quit in the middle of everything. And the director said to me: ‘ You have to do it, Kelley.”
“I was the only one who was familiar with the part, because I had been at the rehearsals every night. So, I did it. And I was horrible.”
She laughs it off, telling me the story as if it were no big deal. In this business, everyone who’s been around a while has had their share of successes and failures. It sure didn’t stop her.
“After that experience, I was lucky enough to have several roles here, and I got some great parts.”
After some time with the theatre, her story entered its next act. Kelley spent the next twenty years travelling the world as a Cruise Director and Production Manager, working with notable entertainers such as Jerry Lewis and Diahann Carroll along the way.
As time went on, the call of family and home became louder, until she finally listened and returned to her roots in Plant City. She didn’t stay away from the theatre for long.
Shortly after returning, Jennifer Fenner, the director of the upcoming production of You Can’t Take It With You, reached out to Kelley. “There was an upcoming show, and Jennifer wondered if I wanted to be a part of it. Of course, I said yes!”
She hasn’t looked back since. “From there, I just started getting more involved. I joined the board in 2011, and I’ve been a member ever since.”
She has served in various roles and capacities with Plant City Entertainment, including Secretary and Vice President on their board. Now, after almost a decade under the leadership of former president Victor Hamilton, Plant City Entertainment has elected her as their new president of the board. Just like Dorothy, she has returned to the very same place she started from.
Kelley is excited about the opportunities ahead. “I have great expectations for the future.”
And there’s a lot to look forward to. In just weeks, the classic Pulitzer Prize-winning comedy You Can’t Take It With You opens on their stage, followed by the live music show Holiday Splendor in December.
Their season continues into 2027, with a much-anticipated production of High School Musical in February, with the play Lend Me a Tenor coming later that spring. With all of these opportunities to see one of their fabulous shows, do yourself a favor and get some tickets. They are reasonably priced, and a tremendous value for quality of production you can expect.
As a truly community-based theatre, Plant City Entertainment is always looking for enthusiastic volunteers. Kelley Powell explains the importance of getting new people involved.
“I love the fact that this has always been a theatre that mentors, for anyone who wants to be a part of it. I want to be that person that says, ‘come on out, and give it a try!’ We need to mentor that next generation that’s going to step up and keep our community theatre true to its core.”
Everyone at this theatre really does love and appreciate the Plant City community, and you can become a part of it all. This isn’t just about acting, either; maybe you have another talent, like sewing costumes or building sets. You could volunteer your time as an usher, and there is always fundraising, marketing, and promotion to do. If you are interested in becoming a part of things, they want you to reach out to them!
Visit their website and find out more about volunteering, or buy some tickets to the upcoming show You Can’t Take It With You, which opens in just a few weeks!
Plant City Entertainment
(813) 752-0728
https://www.plantcityentertainment.com
You Can’t Take It With You
Step into the delightfully chaotic home of the Sycamore family, where eccentric passions run wild, and life is anything but ordinary. From fireworks in the basement to impromptu ballet in the living room, this quirky household embraces a life of joy without apology. But when love sparks between their daughter and the son of a very proper, conventional family, two completely different worlds are set on a collision course.
Full of heart, humor, and unforgettable characters, You Can’t Take It With You celebrates individuality, challenges what it means to be “normal,” and reminds us that the richest life is one filled with laughter, authenticity, and love.
September 25th, 26th, & 27th
October 2nd, 3rd, 4th
